Hills, Edwin | Day 14
Brother-in-law of John Thomas Outwin. Owned the principal brewery in Deal employing 14 men and 30 – 40 public-houses. Used his own money in bribery and treating totalling £48. Paid John Simpson £20 to distribute and influence voters. Wratten was paid £5 on account the other party had promised him that amount. The remaining five voters received £4 each. He testified to spending £6 or £7 in treating.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 16418.
It was pretty nearly the case with everyone you canvassed ? — Yes, everyone.
- 16419.
They wanted money ? — Yes.
- 16420.
How soon did you hear of anything being done with a view to providing money for that purpose ? — I did not hear anything about money being provided.
- 16421.
Or any idea of it ? — No, I had no idea there was any money.
- 16422.
How soon did you hear of any idea of paying persons for their votes on your side? You were canvassing on the Liberal side ? — Yes. The first day I heard that they expected money.
- 16423.
You have told me that as soon as you began to canvass you found the people you were canvassing expected money; what I want to know is, how soon did you hear of the other parties to the transaction, that is to say, the parties who were to supply the money? How soon did you hear of any idea of supplying money for the purpose of its being spent in that way ? — I never heard about any money being supplied by anyone, and I have had no money from anyone.
- 16424.
Just think, how soon after you began to interest yourself in the election did you hear that anybody was either paying money or preparing to pay money upon the Liberal side ? — I do not know, I am sure.
- 16425.
How soon did you hear of anybody making out lists, or considering who was to have the money ? — It might be upon the Friday or Saturday before the election.
- 16426.
Did you hear of anybody having made out lists for the purpose of the persons upon such lists being influenced by means of money ? — No.
- 16427.
You did not hear of that ? — No.
- 16428.
Never ? — No, never.
- 16429.
Are you sure ? — Not before, but I have since, of course.
- 16430.
Of course we all have since. You say upon Friday or Saturday you heard that persons upon your side (I will ask you presently if you knew about the other side) were entertaining the idea of finding money for the purpose of bribery ? — Yes.
- 16431.
Who did you hear at that time as being engaged at that work ? — Mr Outwin.
- 16432.
Anybody else ? — No, I do not know of anyone else.
- 16433.
Did you hear of anyone else planning, if I may so put it, to give money, and making out lists for that purpose; and considering who was to have the money ? — No.
- 16434.
You did not ? — No.
- 16435.
With the exception of Mr Outwin, did you hear anybody else contemplating paying money for the purpose of bribery ? — No.
- 16436.
Are you sure of that ? — Yes, only those to whom Outwin paid the money, and those you have had before you.
- 16437.
I am asking you who else did you hear as being engaged in the work of paying money, or arranging for the paying of money ? — I never heard of anyone else.
- 16438.
No one excepting Outwin ? — No.
- 16439.
Did you see Outwin upon the subject ? — Yes.
- 16440.
When was that ? — I do not know exactly; it was before the election.
- 16441.
Did he tell you that he was paying money, and arranging to pay money, to influence votes ? — Well, I do not know that he told me.
- 16442.
You understood that he was ? — Yes, I understood so.
- 16443.
You knew that he was ? — Yes, I knew that he was.
- 16444.
When did you yourself begin either to pay money, or to think of paying money, or to arrange to pay money ? — I should think it would be the Friday or Saturday before the election.
- 16445.
How came you to engage in paying money to voters for their votes; how did it come about ? — Because they would not promise without money.
- 16446.
Did anybody suggest to you that you should pay money to these people ? — I do not know that anyone did.
- 16447.
Try and think; did anybody suggest to you upon the Friday or Saturday that you should pay money to voters, or find money for the purpose of influencing votes ? — No, no one suggested it to me. The men I saw would not vote without they had a promise, and I promised them, and those that I promised I paid.